RECENT SHOW STOPPERS!

I am sending off six paintings tomorrow. Four paintings
have been accepted into different art shows/competitions.
The other two are headed to Pitzer's Fine Art in
Wimberley, TX. Can't show you the two going
to Pitzer's because its a surprise. Once they get the
paintings on Tuesday I'll be able to share them
with you here. But here are the other four.












"Eldorado Snow Day" 18" x 36" oil/c
















"The Heat of Big Bend" 9" x 12" oil/c























"Alberta Falls" 20" x 24" oil/c


















"Washout Patterns" 24" x 36" oil/c

WIN A FREE PAINTING

PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOP

September 27-October 1st
Wimberley, Texas

Contact Belinda at www.wimberleyartistworkshops.com
Call: 512.722.6032

The first five artists to register for my September
workshop will be entered into a drawing for a free
demo painting. I will be doing five or six demos
during the workshop so there will be plenty to choose from.

Bring a buddy and get 20% off the cost of the workshop.
That's a $110 savings. Plein air painting in the Hill Country.
There only a few spots left so sign up today.

Designing a Painting

RICHARD SCHMID ART AUCTION

This is the show invitation for the
Richard Schmid Art Auction. I am so proud
to be a part of this event.

35ON35

RICHARD SCHMID ART AUCTION

"Unused Hay Bales" 9' x 16" oil/c

I have the pleasure this year of donating
my painting "Unused Hay Bales" to the
Richard Schmid Art Auction which raises
money for the Rist Canyon all-volunteer
fire department in Colorado.

This is a plein air piece done during one
of our very rare snow days here in Texas.
I am very pleased my piece was accepted
into the live auction and hope it helps
raise the much needed money for a good cause.

REKEYING PAINTING

Some painters paint from background
to foreground. I have seen painters
paint from top to bottom. My practice
is to start with the darkest dark
regardless of where it is in the scene.
I paint on white or off-white canvas so
the color of my canvas becomes the
brightest bright and now I have my value
range established.

I usually key in the sky last making it
whatever I need to tie all of the elements
of the painting together. Sometimes this
approach doesn't work out as well as I
would like and I end up with a painting
that looks disjointed. Such is the case with
this painting of Mission San Jose in
San Antonio.













"San Jose" 18" x 24" oil/c

When I first completed the painting
I liked the result. As is my custom I
put it away in the closet for two
weeks then took another look at it.
Thought I was going to throw up.

I made the decision to try and salvage
the painting primarily because I had
already promised my gallery I had
a completed mission painting they were
going to love. So I covered it in Liquin
and starting with the sky reworked the
entire painting except the foreground.
Below is the rekeyed painting.
Darker darks, brighter brights, more
reflected lights, a more active sky and
an overall more pleasing painting.














"Mission San Jose" 18" x 24" oil/c

Now all I have to do is find a frame.

"Last Cast"

"Last Cast" 30" x 40" oil/c

This 100 degree heat wave we're in
makes me think of heading west. Colorado
would be nice, but nothing beats the
Tetons for pure majesty. Flyfishing in
Teton National Park is about as good
as it gets. Of course flyfishing anywhere
will do, but quietly presenting a fly
to a rising rainbow with the Tetons as a
backdrop is pure pleasure.

I did this painting a couple of years ago
and hangs in our main room. It is one of
my favorite fishing paintings. Whenever
I have had a bad day in the studio...like
today...this painting centers me and reminds
me that I haven't really forgotten
how to paint, I'm just having an off day
and tomorrow will present an opportunity
to paint something magical.